Printed for J. and P. Knapton, S. Birt, T. Longman, M DCC XLV. ADVERTISEMENT T FROM THE : BOOKSELLER S. HIS Edition is exactly copied from that lately printed in Quarto at Oxford; but the Editor of that not having thought proper to point out the Alterations he has made from the former Copies, we were advised to mark those Passages in the Text thus, ˊˋ and place the discarded Readings at the bottom of the Page, as also to point out the Emendations made by Mr. Theobald, Mr. Warburton, and Dr. Thirlby, in Mr. Theobald's Edition, which are used by this Editor. The changes in the disposition of the Lines for the Regulation of the Metre are too numerous to be taken particular notice of. As to the other Emendations and Notes of Mr. Warburton, which are for the most part marked likewife in this Edition, we are only commission'd to say thus much; "That he defires the Publick would fufpend their Opinion of his Conjectures 'till they see how they can be fupported: For he holds it as ridiculous to "alter A 2 “ alter the Text of an Author without Reasons af"figned, as it was dishonourable to publish those “Alterations without leave obtained. When he " asks this Indulgence for himself, if the Publick will give it too to the Honourable Editor, be will " not complain; as having no objection why his too should not occupy the Place they have ufurped, until they be shewn to be arbitrary, groundless, mistaken, and violating not only the Sense of the Author, but all the Rules and Canons of true Criticism: Not that the Violation of these Rules ought to be any more objected to the Editor, than "the Violation of the Rules of Poetry to his Au“thor, as both professedly wrote without any." THE W : HAT the Publick is here to expect is a true and correct Edition of Shakespear's works cleared from the corruptions with which they have hitherto abounded. One of the great Admirers of this incomparable Author bath made it the amusement of his leifure hours for many years paft to look over his writings with a careful eye, to note the obfcurities and abfurdities introduced into the text, and according to the best of his judgment to restore the genuine fense and purity of it. In this be proposed nothing to himself but his private Satisfaction in making his own copy as perfect as he could: but as the emendations multiplied upon his bands, other Gentlemen equally fond of the Author defired to see them, and some were so kind as to give their assistance by communicating their obfervations and conjectures upon difficult passages which had occurred to them. Thus by degrees the work growing a3 more |